pH‐Responsive Capsules with a Fibril Scaffold Shell Assembled from an Amyloidogenic Peptide

Ulyana Shimanovich, Aviad Levin, Dror Eliaz, Thomas Michaels, Zenon Toprakcioglu, Birgitta Frohm, Erwin De Genst, Sara Linse, Karin S Åkerfeldt, Tuomas P. J Knowles

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

Abstract

Peptides and proteins have evolved to self-assemble into supramolecular entities through a set of non-covalent interactions. Such structures and materials provide the functional basis of life. Crucially, biomolecular assembly processes can be highly sensitive to and modulated by environmental conditions, including temperature, light, ionic strength and pH, providing the inspiration for the development of new classes of responsive functional materials based on peptide building blocks. Here, it is shown that the stimuli-responsive assembly of amyloidogenic peptide can be used as the basis of environmentally responsive microcapsules which exhibit release characteristics triggered by a change in pH. The microcapsules are biocompatible and biodegradable and may act as vehicles for controlled release of a wide range of biomolecules. Cryo-SEM images reveal the formation of a fibrillar network of the capsule interior with discrete compartments in which cargo molecules can be stored. In addition, the reversible formation of these microcapsules by modulating the solution pH is investigated and their potential application for the controlled release of encapsulated cargo molecules, including antibodies, is shown. These results suggest that the approach described here represents a promising venue for generating pH-responsive functional peptide-based materials for a wide range of potential applications for molecular encapsulation, storage, and release.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2007188
Number of pages9
JournalSmall (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
Volume17
Issue number26
Early online date29 May 2021
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jul 2021

Keywords

  • amyloid
  • capsule
  • fibrillar protein self-assembly
  • microfluidics
  • pH-responsive peptide

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • Biotechnology
  • General Materials Science
  • Biomaterials

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'pH‐Responsive Capsules with a Fibril Scaffold Shell Assembled from an Amyloidogenic Peptide'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this